Family Disputes in Lviv: Protecting Property, Children and Income
Property division
Child custody
Alimony
Business assets
Court representation
The divorce itself is only the beginning. The real legal battles usually revolve around three core issues: jointly acquired property, the child's place of residence, and financial support (alimony). Mistakes here can cost you a stable future — for yourself and for your children.
O'LAW family lawyers in Lviv specialise in these cases. We build a strategy that lets the client come out of the process with assets, clear arrangements for the children, and real financial security. Information current as of 2026.
1Property Division: Not Always 50/50
By law, all property acquired during marriage is divided equally — regardless of whose name it is registered under. But there are nuances: personal property, premarital assets, divisible debts, business — each can substantially change the proportion of division.
What Is Divided vs What Stays Personal
| Divided as joint property | Stays personal |
|---|---|
| Apartments, houses, cars acquired during marriage | Property received by inheritance or gift |
| Bank balances, securities | Property acquired before the marriage |
| LLC share, sole proprietorship income during marriage | Personal items (clothing, jewellery, except luxury) |
| Joint credits and mortgage | Bonuses, awards for personal achievements |
| Furniture, appliances, valuables | Proceeds from the sale of personal property |
Complex Situations We Handle
Personal vs joint
We prove that an apartment was bought with money from parents or owned before the marriage — so it stays your personal property.
Debt division
Credits are also divided. We protect you from debts your partner took for personal needs without your consent.
Business assets
Division of LLC shares or compensation for sole proprietorship income. Complex but feasible — requires business valuation.
Mortgage and leasing
Division mechanisms: sale, transfer to one party with compensation, or continued joint payment.
Ways to divide property:
- Notarised division agreement — fast, cheaper, by mutual consent
- Court division — when there's no agreement or hidden property
- Based on a prenuptial agreement — if one was signed earlier
- Settlement agreement in court — a compromise at any stage of the case
2Child Disputes: Residence and Visitation
The automatic "child stays with mum" rule is gone. The guiding principle of modern family law is "the best interests of the child". That means the court evaluates living conditions, attachment, financial capacity and moral qualities of each parent.
What We Do in Child Disputes
- Gathering evidence of each parent's housing and financial situation
- Working with custody authorities and obtaining their conclusions
- Psychological expertise of the child's attachment
- Drafting and securing a visitation schedule (meetings, holidays, vacations)
- Permission to travel abroad without the other parent's consent
- Protection from obstruction of communication with the child
The child's opinion
From age 10 the court considers the child's opinion. From age 14 the child has the right to independently choose their place of residence.
Visitation schedule
Fixing specific days and hours for the non-resident parent's visitation — to avoid "verbal agreements" that fall apart.
3Alimony: How to Collect Real Money
"Minimum alimony" is not a verdict — even if the payer hides income, works as a sole proprietor or "in envelopes". The law offers several collection mechanisms, and we pick the one that delivers the most for your child.
Share of income
Classic 1/4 (one child), 1/3 (two), 1/2 (three or more) of the payer's official income.
Fixed amount
For sole proprietors, unemployed, "envelope" earners. The amount is tied to the subsistence minimum for a child.
Additional expenses
Beyond alimony — 50% of expenses for treatment, education, extracurricular activities, rehabilitation.
Enforcement service
Debt collection, freezing the debtor's accounts and property, travel ban abroad.
Example: alimony calculation (2026)
Payer is a Group 3 sole proprietor, child aged 8, fixed amount of alimony.
- Subsistence minimum for a child aged 6–18 (2026)~ UAH 3,000
- Legal minimum (50% of SM)~ UAH 1,500
- Real monthly needs (kindergarten, classes, medicine)~ UAH 6,000
- Likely court-ordered amountUAH 3,000–6,000
The exact amount depends on the payer's lifestyle, the child's needs and the court's position. Subsistence minimum figures change yearly.
What to Do if the Payer Hides Income
- Attorney inquiries to banks, tax service, registries — searching for assets
- Proving the real standard of living (real estate, cars, trips abroad)
- Collection as a fixed amount tied to the child's actual needs
- Criminal liability for malicious alimony evasion
Frequently Asked Questions
By default, property acquired during marriage is divided equally (50/50), regardless of whose name it is registered under. Exceptions are personal property (inherited, gifted, acquired before marriage). The court may deviate from equal shares considering minor children's interests or if one spouse hid or destroyed joint property.
Yes. The best option is a notarised property division agreement. It saves time, eliminates the court fee (1% of property value) and allows you to set your own terms. The agreement can be signed during the marriage or after the divorce.
A mortgaged apartment is joint property, and the mortgage debt is a joint debt. Options: sell the apartment, repay the mortgage and divide the remainder; transfer the apartment to one spouse with compensation to the other; continue joint repayment of the credit.
Yes. Debts taken during marriage in the family's interests are joint and subject to division. However, personal debts (e.g., a credit your partner took without your consent for personal needs) should not become your obligation — this needs to be proven in court.
If the payer is a sole proprietor, unemployed, paid "in envelopes" or works unofficially, alimony is set as a fixed amount. The court can consider the payer's lifestyle (real estate, cars, travel) as indirect evidence of real income. O'LAW gathers such evidence via attorney inquiries.
A child's opinion is mandatorily considered from age 10. From age 14, the child has the right to independently choose their place of residence. Under age 10, the court applies the "best interests of the child" principle, considering custody authority opinions, psychological expertise, and each parent's living conditions.
Yes. A spouse is entitled to support in cases of incapacity, being on parental leave for a child under 3, or serious illness. The amount is set by agreement or through the court (typically as a fixed sum).
The general statute of limitations is 3 years from when the person learned (or should have learned) of the violation of their right — not from the divorce date. However, delay is risky: years after divorce, property may be sold, transferred to relatives or hidden.
Ready to discuss your situation?
Leave a request — an O'LAW lawyer will reach out within an hour. We'll review your case and propose a strategy: whether court is the right path or a compromise is achievable. All inquiries are confidential.
Complex family situation?
Book a consultation — we'll review your case and find the best path forward. Confidential.
Phone: +38 063 404 67 68
Phone: +38 068 679 52 51
Email: o3law.company@gmail.com
Address: 32 Doroshenka St., Lviv
Experience. Confidentiality. Results. Mon–Fri 10:00–19:00, Sat 10:00–14:00.
